Falcon taxis on the nose in Melbourne

[MrZ]

Remember back in the 90s, when virtually every single taxi was a Falcon? It seems this was also the case up until very recently - around 2011 or so, when the Camry first started appearing. Then things started changing very quickly.

Well, after digging up a bit of data, I've found that only a measly 30% of taxis in Melbourne are now Falcons. Camrys now make up 50% of the total fleet (52% if you count the Aurion as well).

How much longer will Falcons be around for?

Other interesting info: after the Camry and Falcon, the next most popular taxi is the Caprice, which makes up 8% of the fleet (there are well over 300 of them). Territorys make up 3% of taxis (there are around 130 of them).

There are still 128 Falcon BF wagons in service in Victoria, a large proportion of them in regional areas (89 are in Melbourne). Most of them are 2010 models.

Also, surprisingly, since the taxi age limits were abolished, four 2007 model BF Fairlanes have re-entered service! Previously, the last BF Fairlanes were retired in 2014 due to the then maximum age limit on taxis. The oldest taxi in existence in Melbourne is a 2004 model Territory - now going on 14 years old. However, in country Victoria, someone is still using a 2002 BA Falcon sedan!

[Dezza]

Most of the Camrys would be hybrids, as being cheap on fuel is a big thing for the taxi industry. There were a number of Prius taxis around several years ago, but that might have been before the Camry Hybrids came out. Don't see any of them around now (what a shame :P)

I did see an old Territory taxi last week. It was a black one too, it did surprise me as it appeared to be the old SX model. I wonder if that was the one you were talking about.

[MrZ]

Originally Posted by Dezza

Most of the Camrys would be hybrids, as being cheap on fuel is a big thing for the taxi industry. There were a number of Prius taxis around several years ago, but that might have been before the Camry Hybrids came out. Don't see any of them around now (what a shame :P)

I did see an old Territory taxi last week. It was a black one too, it did surprise me as it appeared to be the old SX model. I wonder if that was the one you were talking about.

Yep, there is a 2005 model black Territory in service.

The Prius is no longer that common. There are only 21 "normal" Prius still in use in Melbourne, with an additional 21 Prius v.

[snap0964]

I guess a couple of factors too, the LPG rebate ending a few years ago now, and no wagons produced in FG models.

[ebv8]

to give the falcons credit they are much better to ride in than a camry
camrys are really a 4 seater and the centre seat is not made for a drunk aussie male
the falcons can have all new suspension bushings and shocks for a few hundred $$ and even a falcon sedan or wagon with 750,000+km on the clock can ride like new if they spend a small amount of money on them
every camry i have been in clunks and the auto slips, oh and the battery is never operating

however the best taxi's i have been in are vans, they are big and don't smell as bad as your siting further away from the driver

[GO FURTHER]

I'm surprised the taxi industry never took up the FG Ecoboosts in any quantity.

[Vesper Martini]

Who uses taxis?

[stock1991]

Originally Posted by Bevsta007

Who uses taxis?

I assume you mean everyone uses Uber? If so I agree, first time I used Uber I was waiting almost an hour for a taxi, I downloaded the app ordered a car and arrived at my destination within 20 minutes. It was cheaper and a nicer vehicle, pleasant driver.

About Falcon taxis in there heyday, I remember always asking the driver how many km's, was nothing for them to say 800 000 etc, always at least a couple of trans

[Rallye Sport]

Originally Posted by stock1991

I assume you mean everyone uses Uber? If so I agree, first time I used Uber I was waiting almost an hour for a taxi, I downloaded the app ordered a car and arrived at my destination within 20 minutes. It was cheaper and a nicer vehicle, pleasant driver.

About Falcon taxis in there heyday, I remember always asking the driver how many km's, was nothing for them to say 800 000 etc, always at least a couple of trans

I assumed taxi's fullstop, including uber. Can't use uber, I dont have a iphone lol.
We just take turns as the designated driver or paper, rock, scissors for it. That way we only have to sniff our own farts.

[superfly]

Originally Posted by Bevsta007

Who uses taxis?

I do whenever I travel. Still have not used Uber and not sure if I ever will.

But interestingly I was in Melbourne last month and caught a number of taxis whilst I was there and they were all Falcons.

Here in Brisbane it's extremely rare to see a Falcon taxi these days.

[Mercury Bullet]

Originally Posted by Bevsta007

Who uses taxis?

Only when I can't get a limo. Limos on average are only a couple of bucks more than a taxi. My driver is on call 24/7 is Australian, showers and wears a suit and tie.

Great at the airport, uber/taxi queues miles long while I get a phone call from Tony, walk outside and jump straight in. Or he comes inside and gets my case if I have one.

Never have nor will use uber as I have a cabcharge card.

Shame there's no more ltd's. 7 series beema now.

[commodorenutt]

Originally Posted by Mercury Bullet

Shame there's no more ltd's. 7 series beema now.

The guy I use got a couple of the last Caprices, so they will keep him going for a while. He has 3 cars in his fleet - a 300C is the 3rd, but it spent more time at the dealer than with him in the first 3 months of ownership, so now he only has it as a backup. He doesn't know what he'll do when he has to replace the Caprices.

[solarite_guy]

I don't like parking at the airport.

[commodorenutt]

Originally Posted by Bevsta007

Who uses taxis?

Originally Posted by solarite_guy

I don't like parking at the airport.

I get a hire car now (not an Avis/Hertz....)

They charge me the same as a cab does for the airport>hotel trips I do for work, but the driver carries your bag at the airporrt, gives you a bottle of water, has a clean car, and doesn't smell. It's an all-round win. Just have to remember to ring them a few days ahead to book, and give them the flight details. Although I have been lucky a few times by approaching a waiting car that wasn't booked.

[Interceptor]

I was over in the US last year, and one taxi driver happily claimed his prius had done 380,000 miles with the only downtime being for servicing and tyres.

For a prius...... it was an ok ride

[Fordman]

Interesting numbers...but the falcon being in decline is expected due to it no longer being made.

I wonder what it looks like in the USA? Do they still do Crown Vics? Or is it all fusion/Taurus now.

[Giant Cranium]

Originally Posted by Fordman

Interesting numbers...but the falcon being in decline is expected due to it no longer being made.

I wonder what it looks like in the USA? Do they still do Crown Vics? Or is it all fusion/Taurus now.

its all camrys. same with uber

[Interceptor]

Originally Posted by Fordman

I wonder what it looks like in the USA? Do they still do Crown Vics? Or is it all fusion/Taurus now.

In San Francisco where I was, Crown Vic's were still common, but not as much as Prius's and Hybrid Ford Escapes

[Fordman]

Originally Posted by Interceptor

In San Francisco where I was, Crown Vic's were still common, but not as much as Prius's and Hybrid Ford Escapes

Escapes, wouldn't have picked that!

[Brazen]

Escapes very popular in New York

[Dr Smith]

Originally Posted by Fordman

Interesting numbers...but the falcon being in decline is expected due to it no longer being made.

I wonder what it looks like in the USA? Do they still do Crown Vics? Or is it all fusion/Taurus now.

Just came back from LA, NYC and Washington on Tuesday and it really varies between cities. A large amount of Prius in California, and a real pain getting 4 large suitcases, 1 carry-on and 2 back-packs into the back with 4 passengers inc. driver, in NYC it varied from Prius, Camry's, some Crown Vics still, Escape, Fusion, a Nissan model I'd never seen before and looked like a take on a London Cab, and Uber drivers in anything and everything upto a Caddy Escalade. In Washington I saw the most Crown Vics and even had a ride in a Lincoln Town Car, Fusions, one or two Taurus and again plenty of Camry's which are built in the US anyway, not so many Prius. And when the temp is -13deg C at 2:00pm any cab is fantastic to get into.

On a side note the 2018 Explorer looks fantastic and while similar in looks to a Range Rover it (imho) is one of the better looking vehicles built in the USA....a burgundy Platinum 3.5L Ecoboost would be lovely.

[malazn mafia]

Originally Posted by Dr Smith

On a side note the 2018 Explorer looks fantastic and while similar in looks to a Range Rover it (imho) is one of the better looking vehicles built in the USA....a burgundy Platinum 3.5L Ecoboost would be lovely.

Rented one in Florida and drove it all the way up to Chicago. The thing looks like a next generation Ford Territory, with some Range Rover mixed in. Gorgeous car and it even drives and handles comparable to a Ford Territory. Tailed a porsche down the interstate, holding speed in excess of 110mph without breaking a sweat. All I can say is Ford Explorer has come a very long way from the dowdy junk 90s and 00s model. Why don't Ford sell this in Aus as the Territory??

[MrZ]

Originally Posted by malazn mafia

Tailed a porsche down the interstate, holding speed in excess of 110mph without breaking a sweat.

You were doing 180 km/h on the freeway, in a rental car?! Sounds pretty irresponsible to me. US freeways aren't the autobahn...

Originally Posted by commodorenutt

I can still remember in the early 90s, the neighbour having a HZ cab - a 253 on gas - that he ran independant, doing part time on weekends & late night.

A HZ taxi in the early 90s?! What city was this in?

Originally Posted by Jastel

Falcons could still be around until the early 2020's. Just because a taxi is 5 years old doesnt always mean it has been a taxi for 5 years.

Assuming that the last 2016-built models last as long as 10 years, we could still see some Falcon taxis in 2026, but there would be very few left at that point. As for general use (private) cars, Falcons will of course last well into the 2030s, but beyond that, I doubt you will see very many. I expect that Commodores, however, will still be seen in the 2040s, due to the fact they were made in larger quantities, are seen as more desirable than the FG, and were produced for a year longer.

[Jastel]

Originally Posted by Dr Smith

Just came back from LA, NYC and Washington on Tuesday and it really varies between cities. A large amount of Prius in California, and a real pain getting 4 large suitcases, 1 carry-on and 2 back-packs into the back with 4 passengers inc. driver, in NYC it varied from Prius, Camry's, some Crown Vics still, Escape, Fusion, a Nissan model I'd never seen before and looked like a take on a London Cab, and Uber drivers in anything and everything upto a Caddy Escalade. In Washington I saw the most Crown Vics and even had a ride in a Lincoln Town Car, Fusions, one or two Taurus and again plenty of Camry's which are built in the US anyway, not so many Prius. And when the temp is -13deg C at 2:00pm any cab is fantastic to get into.

On a side note the 2018 Explorer looks fantastic and while similar in looks to a Range Rover it (imho) is one of the better looking vehicles built in the USA....a burgundy Platinum 3.5L Ecoboost would be lovely.

The Nissan NYC taxi.

https://www.nissanusa.com/future-and...xi-of-tomorrow

Each city in the world uses what is cheapest and best for them, rules differ about ages and sizes, some countries have a buy local thing, some have cheaper diesel than petrol etc.

That is why London cabs have not taken over the world...they dont work that well here...IIRC they had issues with brakes and air conditioning at least.

[Sabantien]

I'm honestly surprised there's any left at all.
I think they disappeared in Brisbane a few years ago, although there was still the odd silver service G6E. But I started to see more Lexus taxis filling that niche.

I think last time I actually got a cab (long time ago) it was a Prius. I'd hate to be in a Camry cab. Was in a friend's over xmas. Feels cramped, and my head was touching the roof in the front passenger seat.

[78xcgxl]

Biggest reason to the success of the Camrys is the hybrids setup. Taxi owners also put the petrol engine of the hybrid Camry on LPG as well. Makes for insanely cheap running costs even compared to a Ecolpi falcon. As mentioned the removal of taxi age will allow for falcon taxis to be on the road for many more years to come. By the time you make up the savings on fuel with a hybrid Camry compared to the upfront cost of a new car it will takes a while. So keeping an older falcon taxi on the road even with higher fuel costs makes sense. From all the taxis drivers i spoken to, all of them much prefer a falcon, in terms of driving comfort, power and reliability but the savings on fuel the Camry offers is too good refuse.

[Jastel]

My "newest" taxi was a repairable write off 2010 FG1...cost me about $3000 fixed.

New Camry/Prius wont get much change from $40000

That is a LOT of fuel to save in 3 years.

I have a shed full of parts and know how to maintain them so why change yet.

About the only positive change for me of allowing the uber scabs in was the repealing of the age limits.

[Brazen]

I went past a taxi yard a while back and saw some Falcon and Camry taxis sitting probably for a next shift, but what was interesting there were two dust covered late model decommissioned Mondeo wagons in the far corner, probably there for parts. Have the Mondeos gone well?

[Bobman]

Great stats there. Very interesting info about the Fairlanes.

There's also a number of Mercedes C class in the fleet and some Skodas.

The Caprice are used for Silver Service and I even saw a white one the other week, but Toyota overall is cheaper for depots to use for standardisation.

When I worked in the industry we went from 100% Falcons to 30% Avalon and then back to 80% Falcon 20% Camry/Aurion once the Avalon's were 5 years old.

BF3 wagons will be around for a fair while yet as the carrying capacity is still needed.

FG-X taxis are very rare indeed.

Originally Posted by Brazen

I went past a taxi yard a while back and saw some Falcon and Camry taxis sitting probably for a next shift, but what was interesting there were two dust covered late model decommissioned Mondeo wagons in the far corner, probably there for parts. Have the Mondeos gone well?

I noticed a few Mondeos pulled off the road early. They didn't seem big enough for taxi use or popular really.

Wonder how many Hiace are in the fleet.

[FG50T]

I've been seeing a genuine FG GT 5.4 get around my area for years too. Yellow paint and all.